Printing device and printing method

Abstract

When image data is input from a memory card or the like, the printing device prints an order sheet that includes a recipient specification field showing reduced images of the input image data and enabling recipients for the image data to be specified, and a sorting method specification field for specifying the sorting method for individual recipients. Using this order sheet, the user specifies the sorting method of the image data and the image data for individual recipients, and scans the order sheet with a scanner. The printing device then prints the specified image data for the individual recipients, in accordance with the sorting method specified on the order sheet. It is possible thereby to easily distribute images to individual recipients during printing of the image data using an order sheet.

1 . A printing device for printing image data, the printing device comprising:
 an input unit that inputs multiple sets of image data;   an order sheet printing unit that prints an order sheet wherein there are laid out a list of the input image data, and a marking field having differentiatable elements for each individual set of the image data;   a scanning unit that scans the order sheet;   an analyzing unit that analyzes the scanned order sheet and specifies the elements marked by the marking fields; and   an image data printing unit that groups and prints the image data for each of the marked elements, on the basis of the is results of the analysis of the scanned order sheet.   
   
   
       2 . The printing device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the differentiatable elements are different recipients.   
   
   
       3 . The printing device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the image data printing unit changes the printing direction of the image data when printing the image data corresponding to the different marked elements.   
   
   
       4 . The printing device according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a combining unit for combining the shooting date of the image data with the image data; and   wherein the image data printing unit, when changing the printing direction of the image data, settles the printing direction of the shooting date according to the printing direction of the image data.   
   
   
       5 . The printing device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the image data printing unit outputs a prescribed printing medium for each of the grouped image data.   
   
   
       6 . The printing device according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the image data printing unit outputs a blank page or a page displaying a prescribed image as the prescribed printing medium.   
   
   
       7 . The printing device according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a memory unit that stores individual information for the individual elements;   wherein the image data printing unit, as the prescribed printing medium, outputs a page having the individual information for the individual elements printed thereon.   
   
   
       8 . The printing device according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the memory unit stores as the individual information for each of the elements at least one item of information selected from the name, mail address, and facial image of the element.   
   
   
       9 . The printing device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the order sheet printing unit prints on the order sheet a sorting specification field for specifying a mode of sorting the image data for the individual elements; and   the image data printing unit prints the image data depending on the mode specified in the sorting specification field for each marked element.   
   
   
       10 . The printing device according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the order sheet printing unit prints as the sorting specification field a field enabling specification of either a mode of outputting a prescribed printing medium or a mode of changing the printing direction, when printing the image data corresponding to the different marked elements.   
   
   
       11 . The printing device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the order sheet printing unit prints a correction order sheet having laid out thereon marking fields for correcting the elements specified by the order sheet, after the scanning unit has scanned the order sheet;   the analyzing unit corrects the results of the analysis of the order sheet, according to the results marked on the correction order sheet.   
   
   
       12 . The printing device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a unit for storing the mail address corresponding to each of the elements; and   a unit for sending the image data specified for the element to the mail address associated with the element.   
   
   
       13 . A printing method for printing image data by a printing device equipped with a scanner, the printing method comprising:
 inputting multiple sets of image data;   printing an order sheet wherein there are laid out a list of the input image data, and a marking field having differentiatable elements for each individual set of the image data;   scanning the order sheet;   analyzing the scanned order sheet and specifying the elements marked by the marking fields; and   grouping and printing the image data for each of the marked elements, on the basis of the results of the analysis of the scanned order sheet.   
   
   
       14 . A computer program product for printing image data by a computer having a printing device and scanner connected thereto, the computer program product comprising:
 a computer readable medium; and   a computer program stored on the computer readable medium, the computer program causing a computer to implement the functions of:   inputting multiple sets of image data;   printing an order sheet wherein there are laid out a list of the input image data, and a marking field having two or more differentiatable elements for each individual set of the image data;   scanning the order sheet;   analyzing the scanned order sheet and specifying the elements marked by the marking fields; and   grouping and printing the image data for each of the marked elements, on the basis of the results of the analysis of the scanned order sheet.